Health Minister: Dr Foster report shows NHS in good health

Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter says the NHS copes well with the demand from patients despite a Dr Foster report highlighting how hospitals are "full to bursting".

1:22PM GMT 03 Dec 2012

A report by the health care information firm Dr Foster, which the government half owns, has found that wards are so full they are reaching "dangerous levels and staff are struggling to maintain the safety and quality of patients' care.

According to the official statistics, at least 12 trusts have death rates that were higher than expected.

The NHS recognises that occupancy rates above 85 per cent make it difficult to give high-quality care, minimise the risk of hospital-acquired infections and avoid busy staff making mistakes with medication.

However ministers say hospitals across England do manage to maintain 85 per cent average bed occupancy across the year and the service is flexible enough to cope well with fluctuations in demand.